Proverbs 3:29-30. 29Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
If the last set of proverbs were warnings against sins of omission, then here we have a warning against sins of commission. Don’t plot evil against an unsuspecting neighbor, and don’t contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
This sounds like common sense to the point where we may even question why such reminders have to even be in the Bible. Of course the Bible answers that question with its numerous stories of people planning evil against the innocent and fighting those who have done no harm. By the fourth chapter of the Bible this truth is being violated. Cain contended with innocent Abel. Later, it was Sarah expelling innocent Hagar. Judah eliminating innocent Joseph. David planning evil against innocent Uriah.
Because we are all born with the indwelling sin and shame these kinds of warnings must be given. Shame breeds paranoia. Shame breeds self-preservation. Shame breeds blaming the innocent. Shame breeds contention and evil.
Have you ever picked a fight with someone just to feel better about yourself? Have you insulted or mocked a people or person simply because you didn’t like where they came from, what they looked like, or what they believed? Are you a bully? With your spouse? Your kids? Your employees? Do you stir up strife and conflict to cover over your own insecurities?
Sometimes shame even causes us to interpret help as harm. The truth spoken to us in love is perceived as an attempt to embarrass or belittle. When the word of God convicts us we turn it around on the preacher. When the kindness of others exposes our inability to accept help we reject it and turn away a friend. When honesty and vulnerability become too exposing we refuse to live life in community and become more and more isolated and hardened in heart. We are too easily offended, and too quick to repay intended good with evil.
Those living from the Spirit of the indwelling Christ have no need to pursue trouble, plot evil, or pick fights. Why not? Because, in Christ, there is no reason to let our shame get the better of us. When there is nothing left for us to lose and nothing left for us to gain there is no reason to allow our insecurities be taken out at the expense of the neighbors around us. To the degree that we recall that, in Christ, we have been given all things necessary for godliness, all peace, all love, all goodness, all honor, we will be able to resist the lie that we have to cover our shame with acts of self-preservation. No more need for contention. No more need to plot evil against anyone, especially the innocent living within the radius of our self-contempt.
Rather, let us be a door into the shelter of Christ’s love. His preserving grace and mercy. May our humble confidence in Christ allow others to find in us a neighbor that loves not only as we love ourselves but as Christ loves us.
You: Who are the innocent people in your life that are taking the brunt of your shame and anger?
You in Christ: How does knowing that you have everything you need in Christ allow you to avoid contention with others?
Christ in you: What contention do you need to own, apologize for, and bring to an end by the power of Christ’s indwelling love and acceptance of you?
Pray: Father, from your peace in my heart let me bring peace to others. Amen.
To Live is Christ 